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2022 ChevernyDomaine du Salvard
France | Loire
Shop All WinesProducer France Italy Wine Type Price Range Farming Type Vintage
Since he moved to Saumur from Saint-Émilion in the 1990s at the age of twenty-three, Thierry Germain has been on a fanatical mission to bring the LoireValley its deserved acclaim alongside Burgundy and his native land as one of the great wine regions of the world. Early in his career, Thierry studied under the legendary Foucault brothers of Clos Rougeard, who made a bottling from the lieu-dit Les Poyeux. Clos Rougeard was recently sold to a French billionaire, but Thierry continues to capture the essence of Les Poyeux's terroir in his own Terres Chaudes bottling. He farms the Cabernet Franc grapes biodynamically, de-stems them, ferments them in cement, and ages them on their lees in large foudres for one year. The result? Thierry's reds, in general, might be the most elegant of our Loire Valley reds, and this one is no exception. Deceptively plush red and black fruit give way to grippy tannins, suggesting a long life ahead. It is perfect alongside heartier fare as well as a thrill to drink and decipher on its own.
—Tom Wolf
|Wine Type:
|Bottle Size:
|Cabernet Franc
|Thierry Germain
|Thierry Germain
|45 years, 4 ha
|Clay, Tuffeau Limestone
|Aged on fine lees in 6000L or 1200L foudre for 12 months
|Biodynamic (certified)
Thierry Germain France | Loire | Saumur
Thierry Germain France | Loire | Saumur
Thierry Germain France | Loire | Saumur
Thierry Germain France | Loire | Saumur
Thierry Germain France | Loire | Saumur
Thierry Germain France | Loire | Saumur-Champigny
Thierry relocated to the Loire from Bordeaux in the early 1990s, and soon fell under the influence of his spiritual father, Charly Foucault of Clos Rougeard. Thierry would ultimately convert his entire domaine to biodynamic viticulture, which was the equivalent of his wine epiphany. Listening and observing his plants, allowing them to guide him, revolutionized his way of thinking. Thierry harvests on the relatively early side to preserve fresh, vibrant fruit. His goal is to produce Cabernet with purity, finesse, and drinkability, while avoiding rusticity, vegetal character, and hard tannins. When it comes to his Chenin, he makes bone dry, high acid, mineral wines that drink like Chablis young and take on weight slowly over time. Aging takes place in large oval foudres (for the whites) and round foudres and demi-muids (for the reds) in Thierry's frigid tuffeau cellars below his winery in Varrains. His incredibly diverse terroirs are translated with utter clarity and precision.
The defining feature of the Loire Valley, not surprisingly, is the Loire River. As the longest river in France, spanning more than 600 miles, this river connects seemingly disparate wine regions. Why else would Sancerre, with its Kimmeridgian limestone terroir be connected to Muscadet, an appellation that is 250 miles away?
Secondary in relevance to the historical, climatic, environmental, and cultural importance of the river are the wines and châteaux of the Jardin de la France. The kings and nobility of France built many hundreds of châteaux in the Loire but wine preceded the arrival of the noblesse and has since out-lived them as well.
Diversity abounds in the Loire. The aforementioned Kimmderidgian limestone of Sancerre is also found in Chablis. Chinon, Bourgueil, and Saumur boast the presence of tuffeau, a type of limestone unique to the Loire that has a yellowish tinge and a chalky texture. Savennières has schist, while Muscadet has volcanic, granite, and serpentinite based soils. In addition to geologic diversity, many, grape varieties are grown there too: Cabernet Franc, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Melon de Bourgogne are most prevalent, but (to name a few) Pinot Gris, Grolleau, Pinot Noir, Pineau d'Aunis, and Folle Blanche are also planted. These myriad of viticultural influences leads to the high quality production of every type of wine: red, white, rosé, sparkling, and dessert.
Like the Rhône and Provence, some of Kermit's first imports came from the Loire, most notably the wines of Charles Joguet and Château d'Epiré—two producers who are featured in Kermit's book Adventures on the Wine Route and with whom we still work today.
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire | Bourgueil
Charles Joguet France | Loire | Chinon
Daniel Chotard France | Loire | Sancerre
Thierry Germain France | Loire | Saumur Champigny
Thierry Germain France | Loire | Saumur-Champigny
Champalou France | Loire | Vouvray
Thierry Germain France | Loire | Saumur
Catherine & Pierre Breton France | Loire | Vouvray
Thierry Germain France | Loire | Saumur
Domaine Michel Brégeon France | Loire | Muscadet Sèvre et Maine
Daniel Chotard France | Loire | Sancerre
A good doctor prescribed the wine of Nuits-Saint-Georges to the Sun King, Louis XIV, when he suffered an unknown maladie. When the king's health was restored the tasty remedy enjoyed a vogue at court. Lord, send me a doctor like that!
Inspiring Thirst, page 117
Drinking distilled spirits, beer, coolers, wine and other alcoholic beverages may increase cancer risk, and, during pregnancy, can cause birth defects. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/alcohol
Many food and beverage cans have linings containing bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical known to cause harm to the female reproductive system. Jar lids and bottle caps may also contain BPA. You can be exposed to BPA when you consume foods or beverages packaged in these containers. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/bpa


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Like bonsai trees? There's a club for you
When someone mentions the ancient art of bonsai, some may think of "The Karate Kid" and Mr. Miyagi teaching Daniel-san the craft of tree clipping.
Though the New London-based China Trade Bonsai Society takes bonsai seriously, its members also know how to have a good time while honing their craft. In fact, their annual Bonsai and Asian Arts Festival at Connecticut College in New London is full of storytelling, music and color.
"It's an art show, but it's not an art show. You don't have to whisper," said member Susan Carucci of Killingworth. "You can walk up and ask questions if you want to. This isn't some thing where you just watch someone write on a chalkboard. It's very interactive."
Its Beginnnings
The organization was founded in 1998 as an offshoot to classes taught by the late Val Gallagher in New London, a bonsai enthusiast. The society meets once a month, but members also attend shows and hold demonstration for nonmembers.
Gallagher died two weeks before Carol Gazso of Montville was scheduled to begin taking classes with him. The classes were a Christmas gift from her husband. Gallagher's students carried on teaching about bonsai, and Gazso has been part of the club ever since.
"I took up the interest as a kid because I just loved the little trees," Gazso said. "I'm a gardener — I have that in my blood — and I learned that bonsai isn't just growing trees; it's really an art and a science."
Classes and meetings of the society often include demonstrations and "field trips" to bonsai collections or shows. Skill levels vary from novice to near-expert and, at meetings, everyone is welcome.
"We are a very informal club, offering lectures and workshops from talented artists from all over regionally, as well as internationally," said the club's president, Tom Lee of Clinton. "Our club was organized to promote the learning of this art of horticulture care and styling of these trees."
Lee, who was a founding club member and a student of Gallagher, said he too developed an interest in bonsai as a child, but he only began to practice it as a hobby 10 years ago.
Worldwide Love
Though Connecticut may not seem the most likely place for bonsai enthusiasts to congregate, Lee said bonsai lovers are worldwide. One large event he attended, the fifth World Bonsai Convention, attracted 900 people from all over the world.
His club's festival, held each June, includes Japanese storytellers, music and lots of bonsai.
"This festival blends the bonsai art with many of the complementary literary Asian arts to give a truly unique experience," he said.
So what exactly does one learn as a student of bonsai?
Gazso said she's learned about each style of tree, how to keep them alive, and about what caring for the bonsai really means.
"I really do love it," she said.
Other topics include how plants should be handled during each season, and how to prune the trees. Demonstrators often advise those just learning bonsai that it's inevitable they'll kill a few trees while practicing.
"I'm not OK with that, though. It's against my nature," Carucci said. "I used to do hair, and people compare it to that a lot, but it's different. With hair, you design what's there to be there. With bonsai, you learn what to take away to leave what should be there."
Contact Amy Lawson at email@example.com.

subset: commoncrawl


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Firaaq Movie Review
Firaaq (separation) is a docu-drama of the immediate aftermath of 2002 Gujarat riots. We are taken into the lives of a multitude of characters, both rich and poor, and shown how the riots impact their lives. The movie, despite it being a docu-drama, moves at an even clip and makes you feel in a way a documentary never can. The accusations against this film, that it does not show the other side are true enough, but I agree with the director Nandita Das when she says that there is no other side. How can there be an "other" side when it comes to the slaughter of innocent people? There is never any sane reason to set upon innocent people is there! In a way Das makes a very powerful statement by not showing the "other side." This is her vision as a director and I laud her for it.
The movie has some powerful actors like Naseerudin Shah, Paresh Rawal and Deepti Nawal. There is something starkly dramatic about the performances of these three. Shah plays an old man (musician) who does not want to see the ugly side of the Hindu Muslim divide, living as he does in the past. Paresh Rawal plays the role of a middle class Gujarati man who has been involved in the riots, and plays the character with subtle aplomb. What is disturbing is the way the director depicts the relationship between Paresh Rawal and Deepti Nawal who are husband and wife. The man is shown to be dominating and cruel, treating his wife almost like a slave. I think this is an important point because when it comes to murder and mayhem, rape and looting, good people are not drawn into it. Those who participate in riots have an evil side and their family members are often at the receiving end. They can beat and abuse their family members behind closed doors, secure in the belief that they will never be found out. It is the same with rioters. They are secure in the belief that they will never be found out and as shown in this movie, the police are in on it too and protect the evil-doers.
There are other important characters in the movie, like Muneera (Shahana Goswami of Rock On fame), an autorickshaw driver's wife who is devastated when she realises that her little home with its new sofa has been burnt to a cinder. Her desperate attempt to find the answer to Who and Why almost make her turn on her best friend, Jyoti (Amruta Subhash). Shubhash's acting is good too. A central character in the movie is a little boy called Mohsin, whose family has been killed in the riots. His life intertwines with the life of other characters.
Ravi K Chandran's cinematography adds to the charged atmosphere and so does the clever editing which takes us from one story to another without any jerks.
This movie is not just about the aftermath of the Gujarat riots, it's about people. As the movie progresses one forgets that one is watching a film that has something to do with Hindus and Muslims. It is a story about human beings. There is a character that all of us can identify with and the movie ends with hope.
Firaaq is good cinema. A serious dark film no doubt but it has its lessons for each one of us. A great effort by Das. And it's just her first film as a director.
(Photo is from Rediff)
March 25, 2009 9:37 am
I disagree with you, i think for the first time, that there is the other side. Our media is obsessed with pro-muslim stance and anti-hindu subjects. I don't deny that riots were wrong but then what about the carnage? Was that right?? No? then how come thats not been shown anywhere or talked about? Oh, of course, they were hindus who were burnt alive… so who cares!!!
I am a rational person and if one is really rational, then both the sides have to be seen.
Media simply loves getting footage out of this Hindu-muslim riot in gujarat and they simply close their eyes when it comes to ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri pandits!!!
Gosh, how non-secular we are!! Or are we really???
Nita, this outburst is not towards you… its towards the sentence up there "there is not other side…"
April 15, 2013 7:36 pm
what nonsense??it is a movie,not an investigation report of the post-godhra communal riots in Gujrat and its causes…it is basically a story of emotional breakdown after the communal riot…why u expect it to tell u the other side of the story??
April 15, 2013 7:53 pm
1.Media simply loves getting footage out of this Hindu-Muslim riot in Gujarat and they
simply close their eyes when it comes to ethnic cleansing of Kashmiri pundits!!!
why do u want the media to scratch the wounds of the Kashmiri pundits by telling them the stories of their ethnic cleansing??what good purpose would it serve??Do you get some sadistic pleasure from such things?
March 25, 2009 9:56 am
In Godhra Carnage, two little girls lost their mother and father .. They both were in the train which was burnt by a mob of 2000+ muslims .. In few seconds, those two little girls became orphan ..
I would have loved to watch this movie if it was potraying life of these two little girls after they have lost their family .. But who cares?? .. Those two girls are hindu and her parents were hindu too .. So neither our own media cares about it nor Miss very-secular, very-scholar, very-academic , very-thinker Nandita Das ..
In Gujarat riots 750 muslims and 350 hindus were killed .. There were many hindu families which felt the pain but no one cares about it .. Why?? .. Because they are Hindus .. Turning a blind eye to hindu pain and appreciating and giving undue credits to wrong dids of minority community is in fashion these days .. But it is a real big threat that I'm feeling which will divide India soon ..
I'm not watching this movie. Period.
@Sakhi: You stole my words .. That exactly what I wanted to convey .. But you had put it in more better and effective way .. But I guess being a gujarati and having been stayed in Ahmedabad during riots, we know the truth better .. Hats off to you..
March 25, 2009 10:47 am
i am glad that there are some voices rising now against these pseudo-seculars who are agents of anti-hindu promoters. these people have hindu names but work against their very own religion (like cancer or anti-immunity agents). in a way it would be better not to encourage them anymore (better ostrasise them). one fitting response would be to get back at such enemies by not appreciating their products and writing reviews against their sordidly tainted ejaculations. such pepole like nandita das/shobha dey/arundhati roy would like to sell hinduism and india for a few dollars (have you ever noticed that all those who win booker and oscar from india are those who show india and the hindus in a bad light?)…they are our internal enemies and need to be ignored. i entirely agree! gujarat riots had the other side. the conflagration was started by the muslims. now they cannot cry saying that they got burnt as well! ignore the muslim agents under hindu garb! may truth prevail!
March 25, 2009 1:56 pm
I'm not a hindu fanatic buddy !! .. I'm secular and I love and respect all other religions and faith .. All other muslims, christians etc are my fellow citizens and I love them ..
But you have to call a spade a spade .. Godhra was started by minority community and then the backlash occured which was inevitable .. Nobody would be able to stop it as we saw the anger and fury of the people on the day godhra carnage happened .. I stay in Ahmedabad and I'm socially very active .. So even the very well educated white collar people too were furious and they were like 'Enough is Enough' .. But I do not justify or defend the post-godhra riots .. it was a nightmare for us all and an act of shame .. but you also have to criticize the root cause and that is burning of 59 men.women,children alive without any provocation, without any reason ..
After sikh-riots in 1984, congress and rajiv gandhi openly defended it .. so it's like when my mother is killed and my men butchered other sikhs, it is justified but when someone else's mother and father are killed and if backlash takes place, it is an act of national shame ..
Such hypocrites, we are !!
April 15, 2013 10:08 am
it is very unfortunate and shameful the way Godhra train burning incident is used by some
people to justify the post-Godhead communal riots in which thousands of innocent
people were killed in Gujrat…i wish they could go beyond religion and see humans as humans.
March 25, 2009 11:00 am
If one wants to portray the victimisation of innocents at the hands of facists and extremists taking to unlawful and violent revenge in a fit of anger, a balanced portrayal is of utmost importance. But in her own admittance, Nandita Das has expressed that she "had to tell the story of the genocide that the Muslim community suffered after the Godhra incident in Gujarat". And then to say that there was no other suffering, gives a tilted view. No attack on innocent victims whether communal or political attacks can be justified, but it is often observed that atrocities against some seem to attract more sympathy than those of the some others.
gopinath, at no point did she say that there is no other suffering. This did not come out in the movie at all! The very fact that she said she is only showing one side (in an interview) means that she knows that there is another side, but she is not showing it. If you see the movie you will know what I mean.
March 25, 2009 11:52 am
It would have been a tit for tat and maybe justifiable if hindus (in Gujarat) there had burnt alive or bombed 1000 or 10000 muslims( in Gujarat). But taking revenge was not what happened there. 56 people were burned alive-it is unfortunate. But newspapers in Gujarat (i think Sabari) spread false headlines as "10-15 hindu women were dragged out of train and raped by muslims fanatics in slums" etc etc and later follow up news was 'Few of these women's bodies were found with their breasts cut off'.. So,killing 56 people were not enough motivating,and hence the false news of rape(attack on honour on both men and women) were spread.
Also,gang/mass rapes,stripping women , minors, pregnant ladies on ROADS,splitting open their vagina and wombs,shoving up wooden pieces up the vagina,inserting objects into bodies and in the end,pouring petrol and burning them etc etc are not an 'at the spur of the moment' response,but a well planned plot. and this is what makes post -godhra incidents more henious ,more horrific and more brutal incident..
Next time such a killing(as like Godhra) happens,I suggest all so-called guardians of religion or community to burn or shoot or bomb muslims and I request to you not to do as how happened (Post-Godhra) I would prefer dying with a gun or with a bomb than by the above said 'smart' ways'..
I don't understand why these people (cry babies) don't make a film or documentary themselves about the 'other side'.. What prevents you from doing that? Bottom line is that nobody is bothered about it and nobody is ready to take pain as to do some effort.. Why don't you yourself make a report on Kashmiri Pundits or about Hindu women getting raped in KAshmir?..Whom are you waiting for? Why don't you yourself show me the other-side ? Or is it that you yourself aren't sure of it and that other-side exists only in your imagination??
I wonder whom are these kind of people making fool of ? What exactly are you talking against? (in this particular case of Firaaq).Is The movie a lie? If so,why don't you come up with a counter-movie and talk the truth? If media is biased,why don't you dare to do it on your own and come up with the other-side? Neither will they take some effort,nor will they appreciate others..Cool,keep going…
March 25, 2009 12:57 pm
I am definitely not going to support the hindu attrocities on muslim women and children but what happened at godhra village was also true as i happened to interview a few godhrites about two years ago when i visited halol. the locals themselves told me that the said muslim 'atyachaar' on hindu women had indeed taken place. now whether we needto believe or not is different but i would always believe a villager when he says something and that too after all these years. a lot of hindu bashing is taking place now because the current central govt is anti-hindu.
not that i have any respect for bjp or advani either. those are the jokers who started the whole thing and i believe advani refused to go to kashmir at the end of his ram rath yatra. now what sort of a party is that which makes use of a religious icon for self-sustenance and prosperity?
no! what i want is a fair projection of truth on either side. i do not want movies made to appease a particular religion and let truth go sail the arabian sea for a while? no! you say hindus do not bring out the other side. that's because hindus are not a controlled group. hindus are free to criticise their religion (unlike islam). remember mamootty? i know him personally cause he is a family friend. even mamootty had to take a hardliner attitude for sometime because he came under threat of the ndf. aamir khan had to sport beard for sometime because he came under threat. salman khan was criticised widely because he visited a hanuman temple. all that is ok because the hindus are too scatter brained to object objectively. instead they try to smear muck on themselves (no wonder it is only the hindus who celebrate 'holi'!
March 25, 2009 1:23 pm
Vasudev,I agree with all what you said. But you must understand that majority muslims don't speak up not bcoz they agree with it,but bcoz they fear of upcoming hulla ballu. But the ice is melting and people have started speaking now.And now,the other group is turning its face and moving away rather than trying to set things right by joining hand in hand.
You don't need to belong to a particular community to speak truth . Nandita Das is a hindu and she bothered to empathize. I don't find any reason to disbelieve the villager you talked to. Many many hindu women are raped in Kashmir by so-called bloody militants. But here,we are engaging in blame game,like, hindu women are raped in Kashmir,so no problme with muslim women getting raped in Gujarat. So,in the end,both of these are let to continue.Is that the right way? Both of them are wrong,period.
I am not any pro-congress or anti-bjp.Both of them are as murky as it can be. I don't know if the current govt is anti-hindu,but it is denefinetly not pro-muslim..Both parties are keeping legs in both boats and fooling us both.The sooner we realize that,the better…
March 25, 2009 8:37 pm
"I am not any pro-congress or anti-bjp.Both of them are as murky as it can be."
Yet how differently they are treated in the media which does influence people's views. Varun Gandhi vs. Rahul Gandhi. When was the last time a political leader from Congress/UPA was criticized in strong terms for making communal statements? Syed Shahbuddin regarding Mumbai? Did Akbaruddin Owaisi get the amount of criticism that Varun Gandhi is getting when Owaisi openly stated that someone like Taslima Nasreen should be beheaded? Where was feminist Renuka Chowdhury then?
As long as there are double-standards and hypocrisy in the media, among politicians and more importantly, people, I don't see anything changing for the better.
March 25, 2009 1:32 pm
And do you think, honestly, that "Also,gang/mass rapes,stripping women , minors, pregnant ladies on ROADS,splitting open their vagina and wombs,shoving up wooden pieces up the vagina,inserting objects into bodies and in the end,pouring petrol and burning them etc etc " were the facts and not made up points later on!!!
Not all what was later portrayed later in media was true and of course not all was wrong…
In India everything is skewed to the political whims and fancies!! 😦 Sadly!!
March 25, 2009 1:51 pm
Maybe.I am not an eye witness to any of this..I have no other way except to believe what main stream media portrays. If they are wrong,I cannot be blamed for framing my opinion based on news from various sources,bcoz i have no way of travelling to a particular place and see things for myself.
And how do we know this is all made up.?
March 25, 2009 12:27 pm
Sorry if I was rude,but this sick word called pro-muslim makes me throw up. Media and everybody around have done enough and more harm to muslims by branding them all terrorists and pedophiles and still you say that world is pro-muslim.. ha ha ha ,what a ha ha ha
Fitna and Danish Catroons are artistic expression,but Slumdog Millionaire and Firaaq is anti-hindu conspiracy .. When muslims complain about hate-speech or atricles against them,they are branded regressive and barbaric,but hanging and improsoning people just for uttering a word on holocaust denial,and making laws as to get every single person on the surface of earth deported to Israel (for the same reason) etc etc is very much right..duh…Slaughtering cows in hurting hindu sentiments..But porks chops is one's freedom of expression or whatever the hell you call it. Sikhs can wear beard,when muslims ask for it,they are branded pro-taliban . What a fantastic place I live in !!!
p.s: There are as many s****y muslims as much as there are others of the same clan. So what? A spade is a spade.. Period.
Sorry Nita.
March 25, 2009 1:03 pm
again at the above…
i doubt if you are referring to hindus acting thus against the muslims or the western world? i thought it was m.f.hussain who was the aggressor against hinduism? whether artistic or not it is entirely unholy to depict hindu godesses in sexual positions when no hindu puranas state the same.
March 25, 2009 1:28 pm
And I thought it was unholy to depict a group's Prophet as pig-faced ..And I thought no hadiths or verses state that Prophet was piggy-faced…
March 25, 2009 2:40 pm
of course you are right nimmy! i have nothing to object to except that none of the above scenarios you related have happened in India.
my only question was: were these objections of yours against the hindus depicting prophet mohammed wrongly or were your objections to these provocative depictions by a western world? hindus, to the best of my knowledge, have neither projected the prophet in any wrong way at any time nor have they projected lord jesus christ or mother mary in any wrong way either. but the hindus themselves found both islam and christianity 'xxx'ing their gods and godesses! if this is not unwanted provocation then i fail to understand what is?
March 25, 2009 1:09 pm
My apologies Nimmy , but I had to respond to this .
"Fitna and Danish Catroons are artistic expression,but Slumdog Millionaire and Firaaq is anti-hindu conspiracy "
Is Danny Boyle dead ? Is Nandita Das dead or in hiding ? Did you see a large group of Hindu men baying for their blood ? Have they received any death-threats ? If not, then it is not the same . Google Theo Van Gogh , the film director . And please watch the videos of the Danish Cartoon controversy protests on you tube . If the Sangh Parivar does something similar against Nandita Das or Danny Boyle, or any other similarly perceived person, then it would be the same .
"Slaughtering cows in hurting hindu sentiments..But porks chops is one's freedom of expression or whatever the hell you call it"
The cow is revered as a mother , Gau Mata , by many Hindus . That is why cow slaughter can hurt most Hindu sentiments . Pigs do not share a similar status wrt Islam . And as a matter of fact, most Hindus share the same contempt for pigs , as probably a Muslim does , even the non-vegetarian ones . And we still get beef in India, as far as I know .
"I wonder whom are these kind of people making fool of ? What exactly are you talking against? (in this particular case of Firaaq).Is The movie a lie?"
I wish the movie was a lie . It is not . It is a bitter truth . But , a sensible movie maker would have shown how it all started as well . Riots do not take place on their own . Something shitty happens, things get out of hand, followed by more crap . It is like an algorithm . I wrote about this in my post, We, the Foolish. If you have seen, Black Friday, you would remember, how the film maker shows the clips of the demolition of the Babree Masjid . And why did he do that ? Because that was the cause , and the 93 blasts and the riots were the effect . That is why it deserves more respect than Firaaq . And would the Pakistani government ever award a movie like that , or one on the plight of Kashmiri Pandits . Anyways, you know my views on Godhra and Kashmiri Pandits . I am not trying to justify why did it took place . But you have take everything into account .
March 25, 2009 1:44 pm
Is Geert Wilders dead?Is Salman Rushdie dead? I don't want to argue Kisalay,but I think you too are aware of the group of people who want to take revenge on muslims,for all the aristocracies strating with Aurangazed.. What a load of bullshit..Why do they hate me for something that a man did centuries ago? What can I do now?
As you know Kislay,I have always talked harsh against so-called muslims who act like donkeys by protesting violently on streets.
//And would the Pakistani government ever award a movie like that
Why the hell do you care about them,are they worthy enough of appreciating us…
I gotta go… Tooo much of work grining at me.I am blog-addicted,but this time,I have no other choice but to control myself..
March 25, 2009 10:51 pm
Kislay, you make an important point regarding (some) people's attitudes, their perceptions and how they treat two different incidents of riots, when they should have one standard with no mention of religion, and should treat all such incidents in the same way as a law-and-order situation.
It's actually a good test – to ask people what they think of two riots – one that happened after Babri Masjid demolition, and one that happened after Godhra train incident. As long as we have people who justify the first and criticize the second, there's work to be done.
locutus83 permalinkMarch 25, 2009 1:40 pm
Hmmm. Gotta watch this movie. Parzania was a very well made film. Let's see how this measures up.
The more I see and read about such riots and conflicts all over the world, I am reminded of these two quotes:
"Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it with religious conviction." — Blaise Pascal
"Man is a Religious Animal. He is the only Religious Animal. He is the only animal that has the True Religion—several of them. He is the only animal that loves his neighbor as himself and cuts his throat if his theology isn't straight." –Mark Twain
It only further enforces my conviction that organized religion is EVIL and the root cause of many evils in the world
In my opinion, people who support or justify the carnage in Godhra and/or the post Godhra riots in any way remotely better have a long, hard peek into their own conscience, whatever little exists.
March 25, 2009 2:10 pm
Wilders and Rushdie are not dead, but they live under the shadow of a multitude of death threats . You know that . I am aware of what goes on . I wrote about it as well . Obviously, you or any other sane and patriotic Muslim cannot be held accountable for what some despotic tyrant did some centuries ago . And about the award, I don't give a rat's ass, but Nandita Das did not hesitate in accepting it . That bothers me . An Indian willingly accepting an award from Pakistan . I said it before, I will say it again, you have take everything into account, a wider angle is needed . And please do watch those videos on YouTube .
March 25, 2009 4:09 pm
Normally I desist watching such movies, coz at the end of it I am either angry or sad….
where as my idea of watching a movie is to feel happy or content at the end.
But your review kinda makes it interesting, the star cast is also full of wonderful actors…
Let's see and talk Missus to come to watch this film…. we experienced Godhra first hand in Gujarat and have actually had enough of it.
Thanks Dhiren. And I think that Godhra is going to haunt us forever. – Nita.
wishtobeanon permalinkMarch 25, 2009 7:40 pm
Hi, I was reading some of the comments and was disappointed to see a Hindu-Muslim angle yet again. Violence is violence no matter what and those humans who commit violence are criminals, be it revenge or whatever. I also think that most artistes(M.F Hussain, Nandita Das etc.) are above religion. They don't care what religion a person belongs to and want to depict human suffering/emotions as they see it.
By the way, Nita, I will try to watch this movie.
March 25, 2009 8:36 pm
[I also think that most artistes(M.F Hussain, Nandita Das etc.) are above religion. They don't care what religion a person belongs to and want to depict human suffering/emotions as they see it.]
I strongly disagree but I will let it pass.
Naveen permalinkMarch 26, 2009 1:44 am
Nita, Thats a very beautiful header image -saying a lot. I think you could start a competition for 'best caption' by leaving a comment box in the header image section. That would be fun.
March 26, 2009 9:52 am
I wanted to watch this movie but now I'm not too sure…..
I'm sick of every fimmaker thrusting his/her agenda on people but I guess that's artistic licence and no one can complain.
You know, I hope someone makes a movie on Kashmiri Pundits if only to shut up the critics. Its long overdue….
March 26, 2009 12:10 pm
Weren't Kashmiri Pundits driven out by muslim militants from outside India or was it the local kashmiri muslims involved?
Wasn't the "Hindu story" of the Godhra incident highly disputed by the investigations into the causes of the fire on the compartment?
March 27, 2009 9:45 pm
No, KPs were driven out by terrorists with active support from the local Muslim population.
March 31, 2009 10:54 pm
Wasn't the "Hindu story" of the Godhra incident highly disputed by the investigations into the causes of the fire on the compartment?
Vinod, you can check the wiki page on 'Godhra train burning' as well as the citations and references. If you totally reject Nanavati Report, and even refuse to consider its conclusions as a possibility, then I guess there's not much left to discuss.
March 26, 2009 4:26 pm
movie makers would make movies. even after 16 yrs the topic is kept alive basically by movie makers and by novelists/journalists. anyhow, that's how they make their living. let's not blame them. their truths need not be the real truths. they swing to the current gallery. it might irk a truth seeker, all those lies. but it may be a consolation as well…generations of movie makers and novelists have come and gone and yet they could do nothing to change anything. if at all one must point out powerful writers those were the rushdies and the taslimas. they became famous because there was a junta willing to react.
maybe 10 yrs hence we might witnes a sensational movie titled: 'what really happened at mumbai on 26/11?' and there the opening shots might reveal semi-nude, ash strewn sanyasis wielding prehistoric weapons pouncing upon the sleeping mumbaikars at vt station, spearing and hacking them to fearfully horrific, blood-curdling cries of: 'har-har-mahadev' or 'jai maa kaali' or 'bum-bum-bol' or whatever. yet again one such great piece of artisitic, intelligent work which has 'no other side' but only the side which the director likes to see. it is a free world and it is an even freer india. let the freedom of expression thrive and may the expressionists continue to spin their fairy tales. we, the public, like to enjoy newer yarns!
March 27, 2009 2:36 am
Murder pillage and rape are not crimes against followers of particular religions, but against humanity. As a human being it bothers me that people, like the ones on this forum are against the portrayal of what they term a "Muslim" or "Hindu issue". It is not, its a human tragedy. It diminishes each one of us- Hindu, Muslim, or atheist. People who form mobs are wrong, no matter what ideaology they follow. As for balance, there cannot be any balance in any crime. Or would those screaming of a more "positive portrayal" want every criminal's "side" to be heard. Destroying lives does not allow for "balance", just for punishment. As for keeping things alive, they need to be, else one lulls ones humanity into a somnolence from where there is no escape.
March 27, 2009 1:15 pm
A lot of commenters seem to feel that mob violence is violence by ordinary people on other ordinary people.
Anyone who has been in the middle of mob violence or even in the same city will tell you that those who are killing are rarely instigated by religion, the killers are a bunch of hoodlums who have an opportunity to kill without punishment.
A small number of people who do come from backgrounds with no past experience in stone throwing or killing are also not really 'normal' people (meaning they have psychological problems).
From the review I gathered that a man who is violent at home is more likely to kill in the safety of a mob.
We are led to believe that what we have is spontaneous mob violence, as a reaction and it just happens but many times what we have are 'pogroms'.
March 27, 2009 1:48 pm
The bone of contention here is that the story should have been told from the beginning to the end . It is not about the "more positive portrayal" . It is just that , the human tragedy, should have been portrayed in its entirety . What started it, what followed, how it ended, and the current situation . Black Friday or 1947 : Earth did a much better job .
March 27, 2009 7:52 pm
all such movies only help the movie goers to keep the flame of hate and self-pity alive.
all those who go to movies aren't intellectuals who can rationalise and find a balance.
March 27, 2009 9:40 pm
I feel we shouldn't expect fimmakers to portray stuff the way we want to, how much ever we disagree with them, its their take on the events after all… Its their right to do the movie and its our right not to watch it…
March 28, 2009 5:01 am
rags, while what you say is true, Nandita Das does wear her politics on her sleeve, so that makes her film more of an agenda-driven political statement and propaganda, disguised as a work of fiction. And if she comes in for some criticism because of that, it is all part and parcel with her politics and ideology.
I haven't seen the film yet, but IMO making a film on a real-life event like Gujarat riots and not even mentioning anything about the Godhra train burning (if that is the case here) is somewhat disingenuous and is close to propaganda. It'd be similar to making a fictional film showing the LA riots of 1992 with black people going berserk, but not even mentioning or showing the preceding events of Rodney King (a black person) beaten up by LA police and the acquittal of white police officers by the jury.
Again, just to make clear, this is not to justify any violence or riots, but to put it in context.
March 28, 2009 1:16 am
In this context, the beginning would be the train burning incident, the middle would the devastation that followed, and the end, when it stopped . There is a vicious cycle of cause and effect involved, since eternity, but obviously, it would be beyond any filmmakers capacity to depict that as well. And I do not think it is too much for me to expect an unbiased filmmaker to bring that into the picture as well . Remember Black Friday ? And Mumbai Meri Jaan ? Or Dev ?
March 28, 2009 2:15 am
KC…you are dot-on on what you said about Firaaq at your blog site. Couldn't post any comment there because it wasn't accepting me. Normally when I move from Nita's to member blogger sites I seem to get a free pass. This time it didn't work. But anyway, I am using this space[sorry Nita 🙂 ] to express my appreciation.
March 28, 2009 2:14 am
Good post Nita.It is ironic to see that almost all who commented about the film have not seen it.I have also not seen it and will surely try to see it if I can. Fortunately I am not in Gujarat so I may be able to see it.
As Nimmy said why the well meaning proud 'Hindu' friends who is so angry with the film [before seeing it]make a film of similar quality showing the other side or if possible both sides? The truth about Gujarat riots is[in my opinion] there is no significant other side.Nandita Das meant it and we should all be proud of her guts to say it. All those who commented here against the film says they are not Hindu fanatics.Then why should they be so upset abt making a film on Gujarat riots showing the role of Hindu fanatics? In a way all Hindus should be happy that such a film is made trying to isolate the fanatics.Such films may help in liberating Hindu religion from the hands of the fanatics.
Charakan, I too believe exactly that. That there is no significant other side because there never is when it comes to innocent people being murdered or killed. I was personally glad to see that such a film was made and I am glad (and am proud) that a Hindu and an Indian made it. As you said, let someone make a film of similar quality on the "other side" and show it to international audiences. Firaaq is so beautifully made that it shows the director's immense talent. And ofcourse the content was fantastic. Without content a film is nothing and perhaps that is why the so-called other side of these riots have not yet been made by any talented filmmaker. – Nita.
p.s. It is worth reading this talented woman's biography here.
March 28, 2009 12:52 pm
charakan…simply because the muslim fanatic angle has not yet been obviated. hence for practising hindus this might be a leading step by some interested paries to make hindus look abominal.
March 28, 2009 8:12 pm
Nandita Das does have an impressive track record.
Women need to come out on top in some key areas to usher in a new world order – film making, writing, healthcare and politics.
These are all creative/care giving vocations at which women excel. I salute women achievers in these fields in particular.
March 28, 2009 1:22 pm
Thank you .
March 29, 2009 1:07 am
Nita, thank you for visiting my blog and your comments there. Its not about being non-religious, just about seeing people as people not representative of a religion. It is also about trying to see other points of view, no matter how much one may not agree with them, allowing others to have opinions too. I know it is difficult but that is what maturity is about, not about screaming from the same set of talking points. Unfortunately the screamers are the last ones to see their own irrationality.
openlight permalinkMarch 29, 2009 12:37 pm
I have not watched the movie and will do so in couple of days after, reading the reviews.
But not showing of godhra and only focusing on carnage only echoes similar incidents in Indian history. Its like showing partition horrors and not showing due to whom partition took place (under what circumstances) and thus lack the holistic view to an incident. If criminal case is taken up in courts or are investigated, the cause or inspiration for the act is searched and logically worked on and just presence of someone on crime scene will make the person guilty.
Nandita Das, as per above comments, have shown the 'bad' element and their acts under the garb of religion or settling score or whatever, should also had why the 'bad' people were seen as saviors or score settlers for a particular religion, what led to this situation. But, this is missing from the film.
In India Muslim appeasement is evident as followed by congress in its 50+ years of rule, haj subsidy, no common civil code have been the bone of contention for decades and congress shows it as its achievement, that see even if Muslims are minority (not now at 30%) congress doles favors to Muslims in Hindu dominated India as they might had got in Pakistan. But apathy is that these same Muslims change their tack in US / Australia and become the law abiding citizens.
Further, situation is worsened by media and other politicians who are more interested to have investigation into Batla House encounter and no word on the two missing terrorists, daily focus on the so called 'Hindu terrorist' but no focus on well educated 19 lakh CTC earning Muslim terrorist,focus on pakistan and its Let and no focus on spread of Islamic terrorisn in Kerala or how LeT terrorists got local support from ??
All these just adds to discontent amongst Hindus and will prove detrimental for India and as well as congress in long run who only needs Muslim votes and power.
March 29, 2009 1:14 pm
Please let me know which census you referred to that shows Muslims to be 30 % of the population. The census that I have access to shows it bo be less than half of that percentage.
Muslim appeasement is a myth. Do they have reservation in professional colleges and in jobs? Are they on the dole? Are you giving them scholarships?
If they have a personal law, so do the Hindus. Talk about Haj subsidy. When a majority of Muslims can scarcely make two ends meet, of what use is theHaj subsidy?
Stop spreading this hatred and creating a communal divide. India is working hard in every sector of business to be amongst the best in the world, and the last thing we need is to have a nation divided against itself.
March 29, 2009 8:23 pm
"Stop spreading this hatred and creating a communal divide."
Milind, you have given the answer to those who are wondering why people don't make movies showing the "other side's story." Whenever an attempt is made to discuss issues, there are comebacks like yours above. In such an atmosphere, honest debate is impossible as it kills the conversation. Everyone knows that all political parties in India are communal and there's already a communal divide, so the question of "creating a communal divide" doesn't even enter the picture. There's no doubt that Haj subsidy and Shah Bano case are as communal as they can be. The way forward is to accept that (instead of denying) and work to make India truly secular, where no doles are given based on preferential treatment for any religion.
April 1, 2009 12:31 am
Well said,
March 29, 2009 8:55 pm
am angry!!!!!! at the treatment meted out to varun gandhi. what did he do different from what hardcore juma masjid imam and some goons in UP proclaimed against hindus?
the thought that whatever you think as a common man, there are better equipped consultants advising the various major parties in india gives me the shivers.
everything is a ploy? varun shot into fame by giving the muslim hate speech. bjp distanced itself from varun. advani wanting to become pm is splashed on every site i wish to surf (haven't checked porn sites yet). varun goes to jail like mkg (his end-namesake), declares from his pen that given a choice he wouldn't have said all that he said (who asked him to say what he said?). advantage gandhi family whichever way the dice falls?
rahul keeping quiet…sonia maintaining the stiff-upper-lip (fed-up of 5 yrs looting? nothing more to loot? let bjp rule the trash? of course! varun (from the family!) is there to collect the left-overs! those at pilbhit (idiots!) who smashed (my blood-tax paid bought out furnitures) vouch for confirmed votes either way (advantage bjp, advantage congress, advantage communist…who cares…we are all collaborating?)
communal? ha! ha! poor me, you and the dumb-struck dog!
March 29, 2009 9:02 pm
No Muslim has asked for a Haj subsidy. So, even if you withdraw it, nobody will object.
As far as the Shah Bano case is concerned, wrong enough though the judgment may have been, it did not affect any other community. If you believe that there should be a UCC, no problem.
Actually speaking, if every community is treated as an absolute equal, everybody will be happy. Why play favorites?
March 30, 2009 7:43 pm
Anybody here familiar with the budding field of 'legal pluralism'?
March 29, 2009 9:26 pm
[Actually speaking, if every community is treated as an absolute equal, everybody will be happy. Why play favorites?]
ah! milind. amit isn't wrong, afterall!
[Everyone knows that all political parties in India are communal and there's already a communal divide, so the question of "creating a communal divide" doesn't even enter the picture. There's no doubt that Haj subsidy and Shah Bano case are as communal as they can be.]
we think only 'straight'!
openlight permalinkMarch 29, 2009 10:37 pm
@Milind Kher :
30% – census you are talking about is highly contoured and deviated and anyone who has been living in any city in India observes this 'growing' population and their ghettos donning carcasses of cows and goats. You also add Bangladeshi (in lakhs) and pakistanis (in 000s) added yearly.
Haj subsidy – Other than haj board no one else in India is taking it and only Muslims are going,using it.
UCC and shah bano – When Muslims can not digest the shah bano case, I am sure that they will never agree on Universal Civil code ( till the judgement day). Hindus have personal law but they don't chart their own course, they go to police and courts and follow the law of land and not 4th century book.
+ Muslim appeasement is evident in every election, govt. is ready to break temples but not mosques if obstructing roads why ?? — appeasement.
+ Death of police inspector, so inquiry for encounter and no search of two terrorists went into ghettos — appeasement.
+ Abu azmi, bukhari, and many more UP and bihar Muslims making anti-social and communal speeches and acts but, no action — appeasement.
+ Varun Gandhi supposedly says anything for Hindus so, arrest but Kidwai says, no action — appeasement.
+ Malegaon bomb accused home, and details to be shown repeatedly on media but, 19 lakh CTC taking Muslims, doctors and engineers bombing cities, no details
Reservations, Muslims have many universities across India having liberal central grants and reservation– appeasement (eg. Jamia Milia Islamia — where terrorists responsible for Delhi blasts study)
Other than Islam no other religion talks of follower and non-follower and treatment to be given to them. Mau riots, Godhra, Marad riots all testify to the attitude of Muslims. The only point Hindus and Muslims can come together is Sufism and dargahs as, Hindus can say 'allah-ho-akbar' but Muslims will never say 'Jai Shri Ram'.
But, there are Muslims who condemn terror but are afraid to do so due to religious pressure and many are happy to live away from it and continue to do so. I remember a news, an Hindu would-be-bride who refused dowry and sent her would be in-laws to jail, got marriage offer same day but later similar Muslim would-be-bride did same but, didn't got any proposal and no news later on.
Regarding equality, it is given to all irrespective of community, caste ,creed or whatever in India and that's why we have people making their contribution to country whether in arts,music,films,science,etc. And this is what 'real India' is and this alone had stood time and again, tolerance and respect to others has prevailed irrespective of the time and circumstances.
March 29, 2009 11:12 pm
ulema 'dares' congress to give it minimum 5 seats or face defeat!
[did not see so-called secularist m.j.akbar (famous! famous!)/syed sahabuddin/ normal mussies rebuke in favour of secularism?]
advantage: the charismatic or staid leadership of islam which says 'dare show me even one amongst my ilk who is a secular!'
now imagine :
thakeray does the same and gets the pseudo-secularist hindu snub (indiawise 'how dare he?')!
we never changed from those hindu idiots who, aeons ago, said 'athithi deyvo bhava' (pseudo-secularism is another name for cowardice).
disadvantage: the characterless, repulsive and directionless teachings of hinduism!
March 30, 2009 9:24 am
You may dub the teachings of Hinduism as characterless, repulsive and directionless.
However, Hinduism gave the world the wisdom of the Upanishads and the Vedas, as also that of the Gita.
Do not underestimate the achievement of the Bhakti cult for achieving communal harmony and presenting simplified religion for the people.
The Hindu ethos has created an environment where so many different cultures and civilizations have flourished.
April 1, 2009 12:39 am
Milind, who told u that hinduism only meant ahimsa , that was essentially budhist or gandhian ideology merging into hinduism
dharma also means fighting for what one things is right and virtuous and that fight need not be peaceful.
secondly if history be a teacher gandhi could manage humanizing radical islamists
Why was there a direct action day massacre in bengal ?
March 30, 2009 10:53 am
[The Hindu ethos has created an environment where so many different cultures and civilizations have flourished]
@ Milind
But at the cost of Hinduism.
March 30, 2009 12:07 pm
You would think that way if you look at it as a zero sum game.
However, think of it from a standpoint of abundance, and you will find that INDIA has been the richer for it.
March 30, 2009 6:36 pm
I think there is indeed a lot of muslim appeasement going on. However, I also think it is justified to slam statements made by the likes of Varun Gandhi.
In my view muslim assertions of their identity and rights are regardless of the existence of 'any other' identities since Islam tends to have a fixed set of doctrines that defines the identity of the individual and the community.
In contrast, Hindu assertion of rights usually has an implicit or explicit threat towards other communities due to the fact that Hinduism has not had a fixed set of doctrines about itself and has not been a single-community-forming or a single-identity religion and that the only way it can be used as an instrument to marshall its followers is more by a show of aggression towards other communities rather than an appeal to any fixed intrinsic set of doctrines. While doubtless it has universal wisdoms and truths, most of it is submerged and lost in the myriad beliefs and practices.
In general, for a belief system to have a unifying hold on its adherents it has to have a controlled set of central tenets and some degree of centralized administration/interpretation of those tenets (the Friday jummah and the Sunday Mass are effective forums for that among muslims and Christians). Hinduism, for good or bad, lacks that core central tenets which one could say defines a Hindu. It's good side is that it has allowed for the co-existence of multiple faiths and even those of atheists within its fold. It's negative side is that, there is little in it that can marshall the followers together. To put it differently, it lacks centralizing power due to its decentralized and customized belief system.
This does not mean, that Islam does not show aggression towards the other. It does. The kafir-muslim mentality is a intrinsically divisive. But my point is that there is more unity and cohesiveness to the identity of Islam derived from its doctrines about God, life and afterlife than the doctrines about 'the non-believer'.
Therefore, it is possible for muslims to feel sensitive about invasions into their personal law. I'm not sure that an equivalent phenomenon exists among the Hindus who are fully comfortable with a secularized legal system for themselves.
April 1, 2009 12:42 am
interesting parallel
The moorish kings (around spain) were the most intelligent of islamic rulers of the east, and their very tolerant existence lead to the early demise of their rule, both at hands of radicals and of barbarians of the west or what some might call the crusaders and east and the caliphate …
April 1, 2009 8:02 am
Early demise? Relative to what? They ruled Spain between 9th century AD and 12 century AD. That's quite a bit of time, no?
April 1, 2009 11:35 am
look at which brand of islam is dominant now… The ideology they espoused died with them
April 3, 2009 6:49 pm
Nita, I guess religion is such a touchy topic and everyone, absolutely everyone, has a take on it. My last post was also on Firaaq and it's the same type of comments that are coming in. As a Mahatma once said – "There are so many people who are willing to die for religion but so few willing to live for it".Sometimes, symbols become more important than what they stand for – just like religion becoming more important than what it was intended for – enlightenment.
Cool permalinkApril 4, 2009 11:31 am
Nita,Iam posting a true story from Gujarat,as told by a muslim boy.Just to highlight,what muslim women are undergoing when their near and dear ones are accused of terrorism.
I live in Mumbai,India. 7 years back, march 2002, after the anti muslim riots in gujarat state, my abbu was falsly accused of being a terrorist & arrested. The cops then agrees to release my abbu from jail on the condition that my ammi & aapa(elder sister) have sex with some politicians & government officers. I was just 14 at that time but I cannot forget the day 5 hindu men entered our home at midnight & took my ammi & aapa to the bedroom. I was too young to understand what was happening, but when i heard my ammi & aapa moaning loudly i became curious & quietly entered the bedroom. What i saw then is still embedded in my mind as if it was just yesterday. The 5 men raped them for nearly 3 hours before they left.
But things did not end there. This continued for 15 days & each day different men would come. Finally they let my abbu go without charge. But things did not stop here, the cops made sure our hindu neighbors know of the sexual conquest the cops had with our family ladies. Then hindu men from our neighborhood started to harass my ammi & aapa. Since my abbu didn't know of the agreement my ammi made with the cops, she couldn't complain to him, also she feared the cops might be helping our neighbors.
My ammi was 35 years old at the time & my aapa just 17, probably because of their young age and their lack of worldly knowledge, they succumbed to those evil men. From the year 2002 to 2007 I was but a mute spectator to the sexual perversion & orgies that continued in our home. Finally I asked my father to move to a muslim dominated locality from the hindu majority area we were living in. It was only then that this bad dream came to an end. My abbu still doesn't know what went on behind his back & I still cannot come to terms with what i have been seeing all these years. may allah guide me to the right path.
This will never come out in the media but their are countless such stories which we cannot even imagine.Voiceless muslim women are the most affected when such voilence and terrorist accusations happen.But where are all the hindu activists who want to fight for muslim women rights?Supporting and justifying Modi and gang.
Mark permalinkApril 5, 2009 11:58 am
i heard this story before but it was narrated by a female daughter, who was 13 yrs then. apparently no son in the family, i guess rumors evolve over time.
Cool permalinkApril 12, 2009 9:06 am
Its easy to call any true story a rumour because it is not in the mainstream media.But,when it is a fact that muslim women where raped,chopped and burned alive with state support ,being blackmailed and raped comes across as a less barbaric story completely beleivable story.
April 4, 2009 11:13 pm
So my post did not make it through the scanner??? Pity! I think it was because I used the word Ass!!!
April 5, 2009 1:28 pm
I had posted a comment which resulted in a message "your comment is awaiting moderation", it has not appeared. Even the Puneri Patya generated the same message. But it has appeared. Such a pity.
I don't remember that comment Yogesh. I am sorry if it was a clean comment and it got deleted by mistake. – Nita.
April 7, 2009 12:26 pm
i heard this story before but it was narrated by a female daughter, who was 13 yrs then. apparently no son in the family, i guess rumors evolve over time.
Like you can have a male daughter
April 12, 2009 10:09 am
Hey! There is a problem in this system, the above comment isn't mine.
April 14, 2009 11:54 am
Gujarat Riots: Special Investigation Team (SIT) says that many incidents of killings and violence were cooked up, false charges were levelled by NGOs and social activist Teesta Setalvad. Read Times of India report dated April 14: NGOs, Teesta spiced up Gujarat riot incidents: SIT.
Kumar permalinkApril 20, 2009 5:41 pm
It is interesting that after Old Sailor's comment above one week back, this thread has died suddenly.
Venkat permalinkMay 5, 2009 6:17 am
Excellent link, OldSailor. I wish Nita and everyone (and especially Nimmy) read that link.
It is really amusing. Whenever, the media publishes anything that points Muslims as culprits, it gets blamed for tarnishing the image of Muslims.
If the same media publishes anything that points to Muslims as innocent victims (and Hindus as rapists, murderers who cut open foetueses) then suddenly that media is "truthful and unbiased", and whatever they write has to be believed blindly.
Of the 58 victims who were burnt alive in the Godhra train incident, 35 were women and children. Wonder what happened to Nandita Das's feminism/feelings for those women and children, who too are part of the story. Oh yes, "there is no other side".
Nobody here is justifying the brutal Gujarat riots, but when you are basing your film on a real story, it is your responsibility to show the complete facts and effects (which includes the other side too). But our film-maker's (especially those outside the mainstream) craving for recognition from the West, makes them readily spit on their own culture and heritage.
The ultimate irony was the situation of the dialouge "Insaan insaan ko mar raha hai is baat ka gam hai"
May 31, 2009 10:59 pm
you're right. there is no justification or other side to violence. i'd love to watch the movie…


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This is in support of Heather's post.
Protesting is a family affair. I was out with my family yesterday.
How are you occupying your classroom or educational setting, to stand up for what you believe?
Chad and David got it rolling. Now we need to keep it going.
Submit here.
Occupy Education. Reclaiming Our Voice In Education.


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In Thanks for a Meaningful Life of Effort & Service ... on passing ...
Homage to the relics of the Buddha of complete merit;
Homage to the body of truth which is truth itself and a
stupa for the world of the dharma for the benefit of our
present body. Though the merits of Buddha, the truth
enters into us and we enter into the truth.
Though the excellent power of Buddha, we realize the
truth. Let us do only good for all living things that we may
possess the true mind.
Let us do only pure deeds that we may enter the peaceful
world which is unchanging, great wisdom.
Let us pay homage eternally to the Buddha.


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As part of this weekend's ArtWalk 2009 in the Miracle Mile, Goldenvoice (of Coachella Art & Music Festival fame) is transforming the La Brea Tarpits into a temporary "art wonderland." Here's a preview of just some of the large-scale installations you'll find…
La Divina Familia install The Shrine. The huge hit at Coachella contains more than twenty years of drawings and relics from Pasadena's Spears family.
Sonik Mercury and his crew recreate the Ice Age by wrapping the park's trees and statues in white lycra to be lit from the inside.
Gerard Minakawa and friends use the bamboo plant to fashion the Bamboo Archway, making for a uniquely fascinating way to enter the park.
Dustin Feider constructs a 20 foot geodesic dome that will one day be transformed into one of his sustainable treehouses.
Jason Gaulton, Muse Coordinator


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Quick Shots: Aggressive Derrick Rose is in a big slump
This has been a horrid start for Derrick Rose. Before the season even began, he dismissed the Pacers. "People say that it's a rivalry, but I don't really see it." Maybe he sees it now; the Pacers are an NBA-best 9-0. The Bulls are 4-3 (1-0 without Rose) and Rose has been their worst player). Yes, their worst.
ESPN's Hollinger Stats rank Rose the NBA's 286th-best player through six games. He's 40th in assists (4.5 average), yet has the fourth-most turnovers (4.2) and shoots 33 percent. He is shooting less than 10 percent on pull-up jumpers, according to SportVU. He's forcing things, just as he did in the 2011 playoffs. He's not big enough (6-foot-3) or a good enough shooter to get away with that. Rose won't be an All-Star again until he trusts his teammates more.
Recruits leave
Why can't the Illini hire a name basketball coach when Illinois produces some of the best high school basketball talent in the nation? Because you don't need to be an in-state team to land the best in-state talent. Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio State, Louisville and North Carolina had ESPN's top six-rated recruiting classes, and only two of their 16 four- and five-star recruits came from their home state.
Duke, Kansas, Kentucky and Ohio State all signed one of their stars from Illinois. Despite missing out on those home-grown stars, the Illini were slated to have a top-20 class until Louisville native Quentin Snider reneged on a verbal commitment to the Illini to sign with Louisville.
Heisman invite
With Oregon losing to Stanford and Florida State's Jameis Winston being investigated for alleged sexual assault, NIU's Jordan Lynch stands a decent chance to get invited to the Heisman ceremony. And after Wednesday's clutch win over Ball State, Lynch's most impressive game yet, he deserves to be a finalist. And Johnny Manziel (10 TDs and almost 1,100 yards in Texas A&M's two losses) deserves to win again, even if he comes off as a jerk.
Must-win games
The Bears and Packers are 5-4, but 10-6 might not even make the playoffs this year; Wild Card leaders San Francisco and Carolina are 6-3. The Packers will be OK when Aaron Rodgers returns, but must win today at the Giants. And the Bears must beat the Ravens today to make their last two games (at the Eagles, home vs. the Packers) important.
Matt Trowbridge: 815-987-1383; email@example.com;


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Lady Rams lose in double OT at Sectional semifinal
Up three with less than a minute to go in the second overtime, the Robertsville Lady Rams and Union Grove scrambled for a loose ball.
The Lady Rams Desiree Bates was whistled for a technical foul at the bottom of the pile allowing Union Grove to hit two free throws and get the ball. Union Grove went inside where Mykia Dowdell was whistled for her fifth foul, and UGMS hit both free throws to take the lead and eventually win the game, 35-34.
"We've had an outstanding year and we were right there at the end with a spot in the championship game on the line," RMS girls coach Scott Hinton said. "I hate it for the girls because we worked so hard all year, but I couldn't be more proud of this team and everything we accomplished."
The Lady Rams end the season with a 21-7 record, their first 20-win season in 20 years and their first ever TMSAA East Tennessee Sectional final four.
Robertsville allowed just four points in the first half while taking a 11-4 lead. But Union Grove took a 18-17 lead after three quarters. Destiny Kassner hit a long jumper to tie the game at 24 at the end of regulation and a 3-pointer at the end of the first overtime to send it to a second.
Kassner led the team in scoring with 10 points. Mykia Dowdell scored nine, Courtney Ellison had eight, Makayla Johnson had three, and Olivia Daniels and Desiree Bates scored two each.
"I want to thank the eighth graders for their leadership and dedication," coach Hinton said. "I can't wait to watch them wear the cardinal and gray!"
Robert Holder can be contacted at (865) 220-5508.


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2012 Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimer's
The Scotiabank Pro-Am for Alzheimer's, a hockey tournament which raises money in support of the Gordie and Colleen Howe Fund for Alzheimer's, came to Vancouver for the first time. Held at Canlan Ice Sports in North Vancouver, the tournament offered hockey teams with an opportunity of a lifetime to line up and play hockey with some NHL alumni. Every team that participated raised a minimum of $25,000 – and a Vancouver total of over $750,000 – all towards research and care in Alzheimer's and other dementias.
Among the notable NHL alumni present in North Vancouver included none other than Mr. Hockey himself, Gordie Howe, and also, among others, Cliff Ronning, Dave Babych, Brad May, Theo Fleury, Garth Butcher, Tiger Williams, Greg Adams and Bob Bourne. Former Canucks GM and coach, Pat Quinn, and CBC personality, George Strombolopolous, who hosted the Friday night draft party, were also present.
Check out some of our pictures from the tournament:
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Home » ReR Label » VEES, JACK: The Restaurant Behind the Pier
VEES, JACK: The Restaurant Behind the Pier
Seven pieces for solo bass. Sounds unappetising? Well. To 'bass', add a lot of pedals and extended techniques, add sound on sound and a mastery of harmonics; to 'solos' add versions of rock classics (Manic Depression - I Want You and As you said) as well as more abstract compositions and electoacoustics. Best known as a Bang on a Can composer, Jack played a lot of rock music in his life. Identity crisis? Postmodern condition? At least he's turning it into art. Not for everyone maybe, but an important work for bass.
Only available at this price as part of the ReR Sale Offer (minimum) 4 titles)
Code: ReRJV1
Price: £5.00


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Joe and Thaddeus not only treated me to a lovely dinner on my first night, but also graciously included in the party two dear friends who live in Philadelphia. (And who drove an hour and a half through incredible muck and traffic just to see me for two hours...go figure.)
Then I went up to my room and laid down on the lacy sheets under the lacy canopy, feeling like myself at six years old, waiting for Christmas morning. I absolutely could not sleep.
It didn't help matters that in the room above me was a straight couple that had either just got married or just begun an extramarital affair. They went at it with the regularity of a cuckoo clock and the volume of Aerosmith in concert. (By the way, dude - she was totally faking it.)
As I stared at the vibrating ceiling a million thoughts raced through my head, chief among them: Would they like me? Or would Carol S. make good on her threat to lose me at the Weavettes booth?
The flying Wallendas continued their rehearsal above, but somewhere around midnight I drifted off. When I woke up, it was six and time to make myself pretty, or as close as I can get.
I put on the Seneca sweater. This would be its maiden voyage. I hoped it wouldn't unravel or rip or otherwise go to pieces. Of course, if it did, I'd be surrounded by several thousand people who could help to fix it.
Joe and I had planned to set off at 8 a.m. and true to his word, we left on the dot. Another reason to like Joe: he's punctual. A gay man who doesn't run on Gay Time (anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour behind the rest of humanity) is a rare and wondrous thing.
The drive to Rhinebeck was about two hours, which put us at the gates around 10 a.m. It was still raining, but our spirits were anything but damp. The first person we spotted was Marilyn, waiting somewhat forlornly in the drizzle. She perked up at the sight of us and we three went in together.
I realized with a start that here I was, walking into a fiber festival with the authors of two of the three blogs that encouraged me to start blogging.
Even sopping wet, the grounds at Rhinebeck were lovely. The main part of it sits on top of a gentle hill, and there is quite a bit of pretty landscaping–big old trees, flowerbeds, and such. A nice change from the county fairgrounds of my youth which never seemed to be much more than mud flats surrounded by chain-link fence.
We hadn't gone far at all when we were pounced on by Kathy and Selma. Think they're funny online? Hah. Try meeting them in person. They could make a guy reconsider his orientation. There was much hugging, and then a beeline for the first vendor barn.
I've just realized I don't have a picture of the first stuff I bought, but you can see it on Joe's blog in the very first picture. In fact, the first colorway on the left is the very one I picked for myself. It's a silk/wool blend from a place in Texas called Brooks Farms.
I love this stuff - the colors are gorgeous, and it's so soft that I can use it to make a hat for myself that won't have to be lined. Bless you, ladies of Brooks Farms, for making a bald knitter happy.
As we left the first barn, miracle of miracles, the sun came out. This part of the country hadn't seen sun for about nine days, so you could literally hear gasps of relief all over the place.
Time for the first picture of the day:
Left to right:With Joe, Selma, and Marilyn. I'm the one in the dead language.
And the second:
Selma and Joe
To walk around Rhinebeck with these folks was to be in very heady company. We couldn't go ten steps without a blog reader recognizing Marilyn or Joe; and Selma, who is an NPR host in upstate New York, was even recognized by her voice.
This barn was also where I ran into the first person who recognized me: Juno. Juno is jolly nice and also staggeringly tall. If I'm Captain Shortguy, she's Lady Longlegs.
Not long after our group was completed by the arrival of Carol S. and Lisa, both of whom I fell in love with at first sight.
And then it all begins to blur.
Evidently I did keep taking pictures, albeit sporadically:
Kathy and Selma with Marilyn's beautiful "Field of Flowers" shawl
Lisa and the shawl
Sheep of some sort in the shearing tent
Other golden moments have stuck in my mind:
- Realizing that what we all thought was the "macarena" being played over the loudspeakers in an endless loop was actually the auctioneer in the livestock barn;
- Carol S. spotting a copy of Heirloom Knitting (the holy grail of my Rhinebeck shopping list) through the crowds at the Susan's Fiber Shop booth.
- Singing along to the hurdy-gurdy with Selma (the Brindisi from La Traviata)
Rachel (aka the Village Knittiot), and her husband Corvus (aka Mr Knittiot). Now, I have been an unashamed fan of these two almost since I began blogging, and had been looking forward to meeting both of them. And how to do they turn out to be in person? Warm. Funny. Exciting. And did I mention generous?
Suddenly, Rachel pulls out the following and presents it to me:
My own drop spindle. And splendid blue merino to spin.
I was speechless and got very choked up. I'm choking up again now just looking at the picture (and not because of my lousy spinning).
Once I got my voice back and gasped out a bit of thanks, I asked Joe to help get me started. I'm far from there yet, but I'm going to figure it out. (The white is some practice romney that Joe sweetly put into my hands to prevent my mucking up the merino straightaway.)
During a quick outdoor lunch of apple pie, so many of you came by to say hello and let me tell you, it made my day. It was a pleasure to meet every one of you, and my joy in knowing that the stuff I write here amuses you is without bounds.
Last but certainly not least, on this day an announcement was made to the group: Marilyn is writing a book. And she asked me to illustrate it. And of course, I said yes. How could I not? I can hardly wait to begin.
Now, all this excitement pales (if you ask Joe, anyhow) to the moment Joe got his wheel. He wasn't expecting it for another six months, you see, and so when he walked over to Robin Spinning Wheels booth and was informed that the lovely display model was actually his...well, let's just say I was all the way on the other side of the friggin' barn and I could hear the commotion.
I was happy to record the glorious event for posterity:
Joe with Gilbert, the nice fellow from Robin who gave him the happy news
New best friends
We kept up the festivites with dinner in Rhinebeck afterwards (I ate my own weight in perfectly made french fries). I hated to say goodbye to everybody. Outside I was (I hope) poised and collected, but inside I was screaming "Wait! Wait! We just got here! It can't be over already!"
As she was leaving, Kathy told me it was an honor to know me. Such a compliment coming from such a woman. Back at ya, my dear. And that goes for all of you.
Then we drove back to New Hope. As you might imagine, Joe and I were both completely wired–he because of his new wheel and I because of, well, everything.
When I got back to my room at the Fox and Hound, the upstairs couple was in full gallop. I toasted them with a glass of seltzer, opened up my new copy of Heirloom Knitting and promptly passed out cold with my nose between the patterns for Alpine Edgings I and II.


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LOS ANGELES (AP) — Google is turning on a "scan and match" service for Google Music users to store copies of their songs online, offering for free what Apple charges $25 a year for.
The service, which launched Tuesday, cuts uploading time for those who want to save their music libraries online. It scans a user's computer and gives them online access to the songs it finds, as long as they match the songs on its servers. Otherwise, it will upload songs to a user's online locker.
The service is similar to Apple Inc.'s iTunes Match, which includes online storage for 25,000 songs. Google Inc. allows storage for 20,000 songs and allows users to re-download the songs only at the same quality as they were at previously. Apple upgrades songs to iTunes quality.
Amazon runs a similar matching and uploading service called Cloud Player. It costs $25 a year for 250,000 songs. A free version is limited to 250 songs.
Google is still a fledgling entrant into music sales since debuting its store in November 2011, though it expects to benefit from the hundreds of millions of devices that use its Android operating system on mobile devices.
According to the NPD Group, Apple accounted for 64 percent of U.S. music sales online, followed by Amazon at 16 percent. Google has no more than 5 percent, according to NPD. Other services make up the rest.
Google had sold songs at a discount at the start, but that is less so the case now. For example, it was selling the top-ranked Bruno Mars song "Locked Out of Heaven" for $1.29 on Wednesday, the same as iTunes, and above the 99 cents on Amazon. But its album price was lower at $10.49 versus $10.99 at both iTunes and Amazon.


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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Maurice Jones-Drew will not be charged in connection with an alleged bar fight last month.
The State Attorney's Office filed an "announcement of no information" Tuesday, saying "based on the facts and the law, the state cannot establish the charge beyond and to the exclusion of all reasonable doubt."
The Jaguars star running back had been accused of punching a bouncer at a restaurant/bar in St. Augustine over Memorial Day weekend.
"Naturally I am pleased with this result and look forward to focusing on football," Jones-Drew said in a statement. "My rehab is going well, and I'm anxious to join my teammates at the start of training camp."
Jones-Drew declined to answer questions about the incident earlier this month. His agent, though, insisted his client was not involved in an altercation with bouncer Kasim Howard at the Conch House on May 26. The bouncer's attorney, meanwhile, called it an "unprovoked attack."
Attorney Patrick Canan said Tuesday he plans to file a civil suit against Jones-Drew. Canan has said that videotape evidence supported his client's claim.
But the state attorney said those videos did not clearly show who was involved in the altercation. It also was unclear that Howard was working as security because he was wearing a plain, bright green shirt while the rest of the security staff was wearing orange tops.
"It is not clear in the video if K. Howard grabbed, or struck from behind, what appears to be another black male," the report said. "It appears as though K. Howard was struck and knocked down a very short time after grabbing this unknown black male. It is not evident who struck K. Howard based on this video."
In one of two videos released Tuesday, Howard is seen scuffling with several people. He removes his shirt as security personnel carry others away from the crowded deck. A second video shows Jones-Drew and another man exiting the bar, escorted by employees wearing orange shirts. Howard follows about a minute later.
The incident happened days after Jones-Drew decided to skip organized team activities to work out on his own in Miami.
Jones-Drew had Lisfranc surgery on his left foot in December, spent several months in a walking boot and was unable to fully run until recently.
He was admittedly out of shape when the team's offseason program began in April, but looked to be in considerably better shape when he returned for a three-day minicamp earlier this month.
Jones-Drew has 7,268 yards rushing, 2,559 yards receiving and 76 total touchdowns in seven years with the team.